Center console placement

[Emerger]

I picked up a project center console a few weeks back that needed (more than anything else) to have a lot of really bad work re-done. My question has to do with the palcement of the center console. It seems to have been moved a bit forward during it's last overhaul. Is there any standard way of determining where the console should sit?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Center console placement

this is what i did with mine, it had the huge console, with the seat in front approx 3'x4' took up half the boat. used the small Todd console, move it all the way to the front deck. now i have the front deck and a nice open rear fishing area, with side seats. it's a 18' w/ 88Spl runs 42mph.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/tashasdaddy/bow.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f119/tashasdaddy/port.jpg

i built what i wanted for a change.

 

[Emerger]

Re: Center console placement

Ah! Talk about coincidence! I saw the pictures of your boat a couple of days ago, and was using it as a pattern of sorts for mine. Funny.

The boat I got on the cheap is an 18 ft Marquis that was originally a bowrider but converted by a previous owner to a center console. The work that was done to it was a sound idea, though poorly executed. The owner cut the side consoles from the top deck and added a liner that reached the floor. My idea was to remove the liner and fashion the top deck differently, and when I saw yours it was exactly what I had in mine.

Do you have any pictures of your transom showing the motor mount? I've removed the transom and floor, and I was considering raising the transom and installing a flats jack as a mount. Any help is appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Center console placement

email me at tashasdaddy@comcast.net will take all the pictures you want. and email to you. no problem. was out yesterday to watch the Blue Angels air show, rafted up with several other boats, upon leaving (about 500 boats on the water) the other half was in another boat, so i got to play. hit a rouge wave at wot and became airborne. damn it was fun.

 

[Emerger]

Re: Center console placement

Email sent. One day I hope to actually go out and enjoy my boat as well.8)

 

[sbklf]

Re: Center console placement

I am going to have to make the same decision soon on my project. I plan to make provisions that will enable me to adjust it if necessary (preferably back) from its original position after test riding in it with a typical load. The farther back the smoother the ride.

 

[Emerger]

Re: Center console placement

sbklf - I've considered the same. The problem is in steering and control cables. I'm scratching my head trying to figure a way to 'move' the console without having to buy new cables every time.

Here are some pictures of the 'before' and one of the 'during'. I've made a bit more progress since the last one. I'll post some more as it goes along if anyone is interested.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/front.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/interiorfront.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/interiorrear.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/leftrear.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/rightrear.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/transom-1.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c233/TertiusT/boat project/Interior_Front_Stripped.jpg

 

[DJ]

Re: Center console placement

The farther back the smoother the ride.

Not necessarily true. Excess stern weight is difficult to deal with and causes "porpoising".

If you can, launch the boat without the console bolted down. Include the other load items, fuel, batteries, etc.

Try to make the boat sit as level as possible-at rest.

 

[Emerger]

Re: Center console placement

DWJ - That is the kind of common-sense advice I was looking for, if for nothing else than a reality check.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Center console placement

thats basically what i did, i was stearn heavy, trolling battery is under the console. and i get passengers to sit on the forward part of the side benches. my hull only weights 1000 fully loaded, without passengers, and about 350 of it is in the stearn. motor, 25 gal gas, starting battery.

 

[sbklf]

Re: Center console placement

DWJ, What is porpoising? Is this a concern with a tunnell hull?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Center console placement

porpoising, is when the bow of the boat bounces up and down for no apparent reason (no waves)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Center console placement

going by the Trophy dealer today, and i notice this boat that looked just like mine. so i stopped. same style hull, same lay out inside. didn't get info, but it pleased me that i had designed my interior, and they are mfg the same thing, of course the hull is 20 years newer.